Automatically closing pressure release valve



June 29, 1943. "R. w. WRIGHT 2,322,96Q

AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE Filed July 13, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Russe" W. Wright,

I 5 mmwj June 29, 1943. v R, w. WRIGHT 2,322,960

I AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE Filed July l3, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Russell W. wri ht,

June 29, 1943. R w wm -r 2,322,960

AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE Filed July 13, 1942 3Sheets-Sheet 3 T0 MANU/Vl. 1. Y f5: 5455 Russell WQWrighi',

Patented June 29, 1943 UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE,

- AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING PRESSURE.

M. t RELEASE VALVE v "aus euwwright, Siou City, Iowa I Application July13, 1942, Serial No. 450,710

2 Claims. (01. 303-30) This invention relates to valves and moreparticularly to an automatic closure for pressure release valves. l

Among the objects of the'present invention is to provide a valvemechanism: i

That will automatically close when the pressure in'the valve housingreaches atmospheric pressure or a determined pressure.

For use in conjunction with the air brake installations on freight'cars,that will not only automatically close but is automatically preventedfrom prematurely closing.

Further objects will more plainly appear from the detailed specificationand drawings presented herein in exemplification butnot in limitation ofthe present invention, which diagrammatically represents in: if 1 Figure1, a vertical transverse cross-sectional view of the valve closingassembly;

Fig. 2, a horizontal cross-sectional view of the assembly taken on theline 22 in Fig, 1;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary perspective view of the shaft latch; 1

Fig. 4, a fragmentary perspective view of the automatic releasemechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2; a i

Fig. 5, a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the valveshown-in Figs. 1 and 2 in a partially closed position at the momentbefore the latch is released; a

Fig. 6, a like view showing the latch in its released position; a i

Fig. 7, a like view showing thetrip lever in its forward position;

Fig. 8, a modification of valve; V

Fig. 9, a vertical cross sectional view fled form of the valve shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 10, a horizontal cross sectional view of the valve taken on thelineIll-40 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11, an operating di valve shown in Fig. 9. v

, Prior to this invention, the operation 'of bleeding the air brakevalves on the auxiliaryair tanks on individual freight cars-haspresented a serious problem. With present equipment, it is necessary forthe operator to pull a lever on each freight car and hold it manually inits open position until in his opinion the valve has been completelybled or in other words until the air pressure in the mechanism hasbecome normal or atmospheric. When eighty or ninety car freight trainshave to be serviced in this manner, it is obvious that considerable timeis required to complete the job for a single train. Furthermore, if thevalve the automatic outlet gram illustrating the of a modiis manuallyreleased before pressure has become normal or atmospheric, the brakes onthat car will not be properly released and 'whenthat car is next moved,-the wheels will lock and usually become flat. This results in a criticalloss of time when the car is out ofservice-and a considerable expense torepair the flat wheels, A number of attempts have been made in the priorart to overcome thesedifiiculties by employing springs or weights tocounter-balance atmospheric pressure With'some predetermined pressurebut all of these prior methods have proven unreliable as they areinherently not positive in actionand are therefore inaccurate.

By means of thepresent invention, an that is necessary for the operatorto do on'each car is pull out the lever and immediatelyleave that carand proceed to the next-car inthe train. As soon as the lever is pulledout, the novel automatic mechanism herein described will positively holdthe valve open until normalatmospheric pressure is reached within themechanism andthen'automatically close thevalve, thus insuring againstany subsequent seizure of the brake shoes with the resulting flatwheels. 1

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1wherein the housing H) is provided with an intake orifice H and anoutlet valve seat I2. Within the housing partition members l3 and I4dividethe housing into an air chamber I5 and a control chamber I6.Supported within the housing I0 are an operating valve shaft l1 and asecondary control 'valve shaft l8.

The shaft 11 is slidably held within the housing ID by means of theadjustable nut I9 through which the shaft 11 is slidably engaged. Acollar 20 is fixed to the shaft H in spaced relationship to the nut l9when the shaftll is in normal position. Resilient means such asthespring 2| is held in position'around the shaft IT by means of the collar20 and the nut I 9. The other end of the shaft I1 is arranged toslidably protrude through the partitio l3 in a snug sliding fit and isadapted in its forward-position to engage the adjustable 'valve seat 22positioned adjacent the intake orifice l I. This orifice communicateswith an intake chamber 23 which is made accessible by the removable nut24. r

Afiixed to the rear portion of the control shaft I8 is the collar 25held thereon in spaced relationship to the adjustable nut 26 which ismade accessible by means of the removable -nut2l. Held between theadjustable nut 26 and the fixed collar 25 is resilient means 28 such asa spring adapted at atmospheric pressure to normally close the controlshaft I8 in its seat at E2. Afiixed to the shaft l8 in spacedrelationship from the other end thereof is piston 29 adapted to travelin the cylinder well 30 which is formed by the Pivotally connected tothe bracket 33 is the triggermember lithaying an upper latch member 35and a rearwardly, ex.-. tending lower latch member 35, the latch member35 being adapted to engage the pawl'member 321 Adjusting means such asthe bolt 3i shown in Fig. 1 is held by the bearing member 33 and permitsadjustment of the throw of the trigger-member 34. Resilient means suchas a spring may a s e p q i ed ns in the lower por io t trigger member34 and the bearing member 338i) thatthe trigger member 34 may benormally held in, its forward engaged position.

Attachedto the centralportion of the shaft is is the slotted bearingmember, 38 as shown in Fig. 4 provided with the recess 39. Pivotallyconnected to the shaft I8 is the, trip latch it whose forward movementis limited by the wall M of valve in the inlet 54 shown in Fig. 9. Amanual release may also be provided as shown at 92 in Figs. 2 and 4, sothat the valve may be closed by the operator at any time, if desired.

An added advantage is provided in the modification of the outlet controlas illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the control shaft I8 is provided withthe cam portion l2a arranged to engage the legs i222 and 12d of thepivoted outlet valve P, to open and close the outlet l2e. In operation,as the pressure diminishes in [5, the shaft [8, the piston 22?, and thecam [2a are urged in a forward direction by the spring 28. The cam 12ais so positioned that it will cause the leg 12b to close the outlet inbefhrelthe trip latch 40 releases the trigger arm 35. This will causepressure to build up in l5,

and again retract the piston 29, causing the cam j l2 a-to engage theleg 12d, and re-open the outlet the recess 39 and whose rearwardmovement is a limited by the upper edge of the wall B2 of the recess 39.v In operation whenthe operating shaft H is pulled outwardly by theoperator, the pawl 32 will slide under and into engagement, with thelatch arm 35 of the trig er 3 4 as shovminFigl, This will hold the shaftl'l. in its open position, and. prevent the spring 2 I from seatingthevalve shaft. llin the valve seat 22.. Withthevalve seat 2?. p mt eomp essed. air nte in the intake port v w l passthrough the open valve.seat 22 and into. the chamber L5 andthe-welltc and through. he t etvlinto. the. atmosphere.

The pressure of this compressed air will. also, force the piston 23intoitsrear position. as shown in Fig.1, thereby compressing the spring23. and holding the shaft. LBjinits, open. position. so that thecompressed air may thereby escape. through. the outlet l2 Qn this back,stroke oithe piston. 29, the trip" lever 491, will. be. tiltedforwardly. on its pivot 43 by the arm. 33, to the position shownv inFig.7. As the pressure in the well 3-2: and. the

chamber l5 drops upon the escape of air through the outlet l2 thepressure on the spring 28 will thus be relieved, andthe springuzii'willforce the shaft [8 into its partially closedpositicn asshown in. Fig 5,and baclginto its closed position, as shown in Fig.6. This is assuredbyadjusting the. tension on the spring 28 so, that it will. exert.pressure equal to atmospheric pressure, .or to. whatever predeterminedpressure is desired. in the chamber l5. As. the spring 23 forces the.shaft l8 into its seated position the. tripv lever 43 will, then engagethe rear faceof thelatch arm 35, as shown in Fig. 5. This will cause.the trigger member 34 to swing on its pivot. i i,.and.will in turn movethe upper. trigger. arm. out. engagement with the pawl. 32.. as shown inFig. 6, thus permitting the spring 2! to force the shaft ll into thevalve seat 22, thus closing the intake l I.

If desired the chambers I5 and 831), may be provided with a removabledrain plug, for the escape of accumulated moisture. Also in certaininstallations it may bedesirablete insert a check lZe, This cycle may berepeated, depending on the amount of pressure present, until completebleeding is attained. From the foregoing it becomes apparent thatpremature closing of they outlet is thereby prevented, and positive and,complete bleeding of the entire mechanism is thereby assured. I

A further modification of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. l to 8inclusive is shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive wherein the presentinvention is adapted to be applied as an attachment to release valves ofa type long in use on freight cars.

Figs. 9 and 10 diagrammatically illustrate a novel modification of arelease valve 5ilto which. the attachments 5i and 52 embodying thepresent invention have been applied.

The valve 50 comprises a casing 53having an inlet 5 i adapted forcommunication with an auxiliary air tank on a freight car, and an outletport in communication with the attachment 52 by means of the coupling55. The base of the casing 53 is also provided with athreaded opening5]. The valve 50 is provided with a valve stem 5.8, a valve seat 59 anda piston 6i) movable in the chamber GI and adapted to project beyond;the end of the casing 53 where it is engagedby the actuating arms 62 and63., An inlet chamber is provided at 64 and an outlet chamber at 55. Aspring retaining collar 66 is threaded to the stem 33 and engages thespring 61 adapted to normally hold the valve stem 58 in its closedposition as shown in Fig. 9. The end of. thevalve stem 58 is providedwith a threaded end portion 38 adapted to engage the extension memberwhich is. provided with the pawl collar 10. r

The attachment 5| comprises a coupling member H adapted to, be threadedinto. the casing 53 by means of the threaded collar 57. Attached to thecoupling member II. is the cover member 12 to whichv the trigger memberl3, is. pivotally attached at 14,. the upper. end. or pawlv li5of thetrigger member 13 being adapted to. engage the ratchet'collar 10,, whenthe valve stem 53 is in its depressed or open position. The. lower end.16. of the trigger member 13 is arranged to extend downwardly to engagethev latch member ll of the attachment 52. A springv clip 18 is arrangedto normally urge the trigger member. 13 into en. gagement with, the,ratchet collar HE. Any. similar well known clip may also be provided tourge the latch, 11, into its upright or rear position. The attachment52. maybe provided with. av smallvent IM- to prevent accumulation ofpressure therein.

The attachment 52; comprises a casing 1-9 adapted to be sealed. to. thecover 12 at Bil, the cover. 12; being sealed to. thecoupler H- at 8 I-.

behind and engages the lower end Casing 19 is provided with avalve stem82, a piston 83 normally urged outwardly by means of the spring 84, theinner end of the stem 82 .being adapted to project through the casing 19into the chamber 85 and to be attached at 86 to the latch bearing 81,the other end of the stem 82 being adapted to engage the valve seat 880at the outlet port 88. The closure member 88d is arranged for threadedengagement with the casing 19 and is provided with a stem guide 88ewhich is in communication with the chamber 88b by means of the port 88a.A manual release rod 89 is held in position on the casing 53 by means ofthe guide member 90, the upper end 9| of the rod 89 is adapted tooverlie the tops of the actuating arms 62 and 63, and the lower end 92of the rod 89 is adapted to project into the casing 12 and is arrangedto be in operative engagement with the lower end 16 of a trigger member13, so that when the end 9| is moved outwardly by the operation ofeither of the arms 62 or 63, the end 92 will thereby be caused to movethe arm 16 outwardly which will release the pawl 15.

Fig. 11 diagrammatically illustrates a top plan view of the valvemembers 58, and 52 shown in an installed horizontal position when in useon a freight car. From this figure, it will be seen that the inner endsof the actuating arms 62 and 63 normally engage the outer end of thevalve stem 60. The arms 62 and 63 are pivoted at I02 and I03 on thebrackets I00 and NH affixed to the casing 53. The outer ends of the arms62 and 63 are provided with link connections 93 and 94 which are adaptedto engage the operating rods 95 and 96 which project outwardly so thatthey may be operated by the brakeman from either side of the freightcar.

In operation, when either of the rods 95 or 96 is pulled outwardly bythe brakeman, the inner end of the arm 62 or the arm 63 depending uponwhich rod is used, will depress the valve stem end 69, and open thevalve at seat 59 and permit air from the auxiliary tank on the freightcar to enter the inlet 54 and to pass into the chambers 64, 65 and into88b, through the conduit 55.

As soon as either of the arms 62 or 63 is thus actuated, the airpressure released thereby immediately forces the stem 68 into itsrearward position so that the ratchet collar member will engage the pawlon the trigger 13, the pawl 15 being thus engaged will hold the stem 68in its rearward position. This will permit the brakeman or operator toimmediately let go of the rod 95 or 96 as the case may be and proceed tothe next car without waiting for the valve to bleed.

At this moment the air pressure in the chamber 88b will be suiiicient toforce the piston 83 and the rod 82 and the releas latch 11 into itsrearward position so that the release latch 11 is 16 of the trigger 13.When the trigger release 11 is in its rearward position, the valve stem82 will also be in its rearward position and will thus expose theaperture 88a into communication with the outlet port 88, which willpermit the air to escape. Thereafter, as soon as the air pressure in thechamber 88b has become equal to atmospheric pressure, the pressure inthe chamber 88b and on the piston 83 will consequently be relieved andthe spring member 84 being tensioned accordingly will immediately forcethe piston 83 into its forward position carrying with it the stem 82 andthe release latch 11. As the release latch 11 moves forward it willengage the arm 16 of the trigger member 13 causing it to turn about thepivot 14 and to raise the pawl member 15, thereby releasing the ratchetmember 19 and permitting the valve stem 68 to be urged forward by thespring 67 into its closed position at the seat 59. The valve stem 82will also move forward and again close the aperture 880. and the outlet88.

If for any reason it is desired to manually release the valve 50, thismay be accomplished by the brakeman or by the operator by pushinginwardly on either of the rods 95 or 96. This will elevate the arm 62 or63 as the case may be, either of which will in turn actuate the arm 9|of the manual release rod 89 slidably held in position by the bearing 90on the casing 53. The lower crank arm 92 of the rod 89 will then engageand actuate the arm 16 of the trigger member 13 and release the pawl 15from the ratchet 18 permitting the springs 61 and 84 to close the valvemembers 58 and 82 respectively.

The present invention comprehends all modifications, embodiments, andequivalents within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic pressure release mechanism comprising a casing, an inletport, an outlet port, a primary valve in operating relation to saidinlet port, a secondary valve in operating relation to said outlet port,engaging means for holding said primary valve when said valve is in openposition, means actuated by the retraction of said secondary valve inresponse to predetermined pressure in said casing for releasing saidengaging means, and means actuated by said secondary valve for closingsaid outlet port before releasing said engaging means.

2. In combination with a reservoir for the storage of air underpressure, a bleeding valve, comprising a casing enclosing a chamberhaving an outlet port and an inlet port in communication with saidreservoir, a primary release valve arranged in operating relation withsaid inlet port, spring means arranged to normally hold said releasevalve in its closed position, a secondary control valve arranged inoperating relation with said outlet port, spring means arranged tonormally urge said control valve into its closed position, meansresponsive only to predetermined pressures in said'chamber for movingsaid control valve into its open position, holding means actuated by therelease of said primary valve for holding said primary valve in its openposition, means actuated by the closing movement of said control valvein response to lower pressures for releasing said holding means, andmeans actuated by said closing movement of said secondary control valvefor closing said outlet port before releasing said holding means.

RUSSELL W. WRIGHT.

